Source : Perth Now news
Walking into the Blazing Stump Hotel, Victoria’s opposition leader first approached Ross Reynolds, extended her hand, and kindly asked “Have I got your vote?”
The response was simple: “I’m voting for One Nation”.
For the next hour, Jess Wilson swapped her usual Spring Street politics for pub-style hospitality, meeting with residents in the electorate of Benambra, 240km northeast of Melbourne, to chat about issues affecting the region.
Selfies were shared with eager voters, while Mr Reynolds sat to one side with a beer, watching as a pack of journalists, advisors and the party leader descended on the pub.
The small business owner, and previous Labor voter, tells AAP the region is stretched and tired.
Mr Reynolds added he had grown sick of the major parties.
“We need change. I worked in the meat industry for 25 years and we voted Labor. They weren’t helping,” he said.
“I’ve worked hard. I’m well off now, but I got to look after my grandkids.”
Liberal candidate for Benambra Steve Martin joined Ms Wilson at the pub, where some locals were keen to bring the state of the roads into focus.
Matt, an auctioneer from Geelong, has been travelling for three weeks due to work commitments and firmly believes the roads are getting considerably worse.
“We would love to see the roads improve,” the undecided voter said.
“It’s not just trying to dodge the potholes, it’s trying to dodge the people trying to dodge potholes.”
Although he has ruled out voting for One Nation come November 28.
“It’s really the cat amongst the pigeons. The Trump effect, people are going for something different,” he says.
Construction worker Jason, from Melbourne, was quick to snap a selfie with Ms Wilson in the pub.
“Labor might in their last throes in politics at the moment. My parents are Labor, but I’ve been Liberal for 25 years,” he told AAP.
Ms Wilson made it clear on Friday she was taking no seat for granted this election, adding the regions deserved their fair share.
And in a cheeky campaign stunt, she handed journalists on the “Jess Express” eye masks, saying it was only fitting given Labor had been “asleep at the wheel” for 12 years.
During the overnight trip, the bus drove over many potholes as it made its way on the Hume Highway and into the electorate of Benambra, held by retiring Liberal MP Bill Tilley for two decades.
The seat itself sits next to the Federal seat of Farrer on the NSW-side of the border, which fell from the Liberal Party to One Nation following Sussan Ley’s retirement from federal parliament.
On Friday, the coalition announced they would inject $50 millions into upgrading and duplicating about 1.7km of Beechworth Road in Wodonga.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, the Benambra local candidate confessed the seat was the most marginal Liberal-held seat in the state.
“We’ve been out working hard. Jess has been working hard… (and) listening to people directly,” he said.
There was a mixed reaction of the Jess Express in Wodonga, from heckles “fix our roads” at the press conference, to a simple thumbs up from a car window and many car horns.
A brief stop at a seniors centre was also made, before the campaign bus began its journey back to Melbourne on the Hume Highway, where it drove over many potholes.
The trip ended with a final stunt by the leader, a mini machete amnesty safety bin handed to each journalist.
